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I love being able to visit such beautiful places within Dorset and Sculptures by Lakes is by far one of those places. Found on the outskirts of Dorchester this is a place of tranquillity, relaxation, and a place full of your own interpretation. I’ve visited before and done a post so I won’t bore you with the history behind it as you can find that here.
My latest visit to Sculptures by the Lakes was a much needed time to reflect and gather thoughts after a few days of intense training with Dorset Mind. Of course I took my trusted partner in crime, Jackie, with me as everyone who knows me well, knows I lack confidence when attending things on my own. Since the last visit though a few things have changed. The Café by the Lakes has been reopened with a very nice drinks and food menu to explore, and of course there is the new additional Artisan Pantry which is perfect for grabbing a bite to eat or coffee to have while walking around the lakes.
We decided to head over to the Retreat to explore first and if you are a fan of Your Garden Made Perfect, you may of noticed that this was the HQ for there latest series that ended a few Fridays back. The Retreat is a beautiful area with a little pond, a lovely open plan building and many a sculpture to gaze at. Currently have an exhibition inside and I fell in love with the faces pictured below.
After spending a bit of time here we then headed over the green to the lakes and enjoyed a stroll while exploring and discussing the sculptures. I found it so amazing how one sculpture can be interpreted in so many different ways by different people, by the light and by the change in seasons. As I said previously our visit was yet again on a bleak cloudy day, but to me that just heightened the way I thought about some of the Sculptures work. I had a few favourites on this trip from Carol Peace – For The Birds, Nicola Godden – Icarus X, Philip Jackson – The Grandees, which I’ve pictured below and all three could be interpreted in so many different ways. I thought I’d share my interpretations under each one.
It took us around an hour to walk around both lakes and exploring all the sculptures that we didn’t see last time. We then ventured into the Gardens, the one place I missed on my last trip. Another peaceful spot and I really don’t know how I missed it last time!
With the Café by the Lakes open, Jackie and myself thought it’ll be nice to stop off for a drink and cake. It’s laid out beautifully inside and they offer full table service. The waiter kindly brought us over a drinks menu. I had a Chai Latte with a Gluten free Chocolate Brownie and Jackie had a Earl Grey Tea and the biggest slice of Victoria sandwich I’ve seen in a while. The one thing I will say is that I find it exceptionally hard to find anywhere that does a hot Chai Latte, but these guys done good! They also have a wide range of soft and alcoholic drinks and a very nice sounding food menu!
Once we had filled our bellies and wetted our whistle we headed over to the Gallery by the Lakes. This is were smaller sculptures by the sculptors seen around the lakes are displayed, alongside some great artwork. There was one in particular piece that I loved in here, yet sadly I didn’t capture it to share with you all. The piece is by Carol Peace and named Reflected and if attached a link here. The reason behind me liking this piece so much is because it made me reflect on a trip to Uganda. It’s the child on the back and how it’s clinging on that just made me reminisce. It’s simple, yet heart warming and captured a memory rather for me.
Lastly we headed to the two places we hadn’t been yet. The Artisan’s Bazaar, which is their new retail outlook selling work by artisans and producers and also their brand new Artisan’s Pantry which stocks a range of artisan food and drink from both Dorset and beyond. Of course I picked up some bit from in here including some local Chorizo, a gift for Mothers Day (I won’t say as she’s probably reading this) and a candle by The Rhubarb Candle Company.
I want to end on a reflection and to you it may seem like a weird reflection but to me it’s how Sculptures by the Lakes makes me feel. For me taking a walk around the lakes is like walking into a Religious building. I’m not religious by any sense of the word, but I love the architecture, the quietness and the intricate details and will happily seek out a religious building to explore when on holiday. To me that’s the same with walking around the lakes and looking at the Sculptures. Nature has a very calming effect on me and mixed with a object and water it kind of grounds me.
Where: Sculptures by the Lakes, Pallington, Dorset DT2 8QU / Price: £12.50 per person – No Children under the age of 14, No Dogs and No Concessions / Open: 10am – 5pm Wednesday to Sunday / Venues for Hire: Contact Sculptures by the Lakes Directly / The Following are Free to enter without the entry cost above – Gallery by the Lakes, Cafe by the Lakes, Artisan’s Bazaar and Artisan’s Pantry Website: www.sculpturesbythelakes.co.uk
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